Writing Myths

I often write in my morning pages, " I don't feel like writing".  I promised (myself) to stop writing that in my journals because it sends bad vibes down my pen onto my paper. I'm dramatizing when I do that.  You know...the tortured damsel in distress who doesn't want to talk about it but who is strong and noble enough to talk about,  my pain no matter how distressing... and I deserve applause...No? Okay, a blue ribbon... No? Okay...how about a gold star?...No? A check mark...Nope!

What I deserve is to keep writing.  While writing this morning, I realized that I didn't want to write.  In my journey or efforts to become a writer, many obstacles have crossed my path-most of themself imposed.  Although, I could never put my finger on my hesitance to let it all hang out through script, this morning I came face to face with some writing myths that I have harbored since the day (I can't remember twhat day that was though) I realized that I was serious about writing. These are some of  the things that serve as obstacles to a fulfilling writing experience.

Number 1: Writing should always be a pleasant experience.  I don't know where I got this from except, somehow growing up I also got the message that life is always supposed to be a pleasant experience. If it is not,  then you are doing something wrong. So, in my quest for perfection and pleasure, I would stop writing because, I wasn't having fun, couldn't face the pain of the skeletons that were tap-dancing in my face,  figured I was wasting my time and was too un-talented to make this activity worthwhile. 

What I realized: Writing is worthwhile as long as you have enough confidence to make yourself heard (or read).

Number 2: All writer's lead a tortured, hellish life.  And mine was not tortured or hellish enough. Well, I was off base about a couple of things here. Maybe I should have written 2A and 2B..Oh well! Anyher... I have created crisis in my life because, I did not feel comfortable without crisis and I believed also that drama makes good writing.  It didn't occur to me that I could just think up drama or look at the newspaper or talk to other people about the crap that they loaded up their existences with. Not only that enough horrors in life happens naturally.  Who in their right mind would screw up their life on purpose? (I will refrain from mentioning names here).

What I discovered:  All I had to do was write if I wanted to write. That creating drama in my life was something that I seemed to be geared to growing up.  The more organized and rationale my life becomes, the easier it is for me to produce script. (I didn't know that I was torturing myself at the time either). Drama , doesn't make good writing,good writing makes for good writing.

Number 3: Writing for a living is only reserved for the priviledged in this society.

Well, it depends on what you mean by privileged.  I discovered that as long as I can afford a pen and some paper...I am privileged.

What I know now: Writing for a living is reserved for anyone who wants to work hard enough to do it.  With all the complaints that I have about the present USA today.  I still believe that we have more freedom in this country than anywhere else. (As, a matter of fact, so much freedom, we don't really know what to do with it). Despite our flaws, this is still the greatest country in the world. Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

Number 4: Fantasizing about writing is enough to motivate me.

Ain't that the craziest thing you ever read?  Some people think that thinkin' makes it so. For a while, I deluded myself into believing that it did.  As a result, I have no novels written, and a short story and a half and a few lines of a play and a buncha journals.

What I found out: You have to pick up a pen and paper and write on the paper with the pen and write about the princessess and fairy godmothers that you're dreaming about.   If all you do is daydream, nothing gets done.
Number 5: You have to have readers, to become a writer. How backwards is that?
Well then you, have to ask yourself, is it the readers that make the writer, or the writer that makes the writer..or both?

That was part of my fantasy thing.

What I ran up on:  If you haven't written anything, what the heck are people going to read?  Write stuff. Then look for people to read it. Present it, I say!

And last but not least

Number 6: It takes more discipline to write that anything else.

Fear has been the biggest obstacle to my desire to write. Well not to my desire... but to my actually producing writing...fear.  Fear is the most destructive 4 letter word that I know of when it comes to doing anything.  I had to wade through the fear to get to my pen and paper everymorning. And the more I did that, the easier it became.  I'm not totally fearless where writing is concerned, but I have a lot more courage than I did.  I've come a long way baby.

Number 7: Published writer's are always the best writer's.

What I have experienced:  Sometimes I read a work and wonder why the publisher bothered. Or why I bothered? My personal opinion about all those people on the New York bestsellers list: ( to be honest, I'm just guessing at this, don't quote me, 'cause this could be a "sour grapes" issue) many of them are sellouts with good connections who have the ability to endure writing marathons. The main advangtage that they have over you and me though, is that they finished what they started. Which is enough to make the worst of them, my hero. (I'm not that hard to please).

In my experience: A true writer, is able to complete a work, to become a writer thereby defining his or her self as such...published or not.

What are you?